Some biowogists use Tenrecomorpha as de name for de tenrec-gowden mowe cwade, but Gary Bronner and Pauwina Jenkins argue dat Afrosoricida is more appropriate, despite deir misgivings about de simiwarity between de name "Afrosoricida" and de unrewated shrew subgenus Afrosorex.[1]

Traditionawwy, dese two famiwies were grouped wif de hedgehogs, shrews and mowes in de Lipotyphwa. However, dere have awways been minority opinions suggesting dat Tenrecomorpha, or at weast de gowden mowes, are not true wipotyphwans. These opinions are now supported by many genetic studies indicating an association between Tenrecomorpha and various oder African mammaws in de superorder Afroderia; however dere is no strong morphowogicaw evidence to wink de Afrosoricida togeder wif oder afroderians. Afrosoricids are sometimes considered part of de Afroinsectiphiwia, a cwade widin Afroderia.

As a ruwe, tenrecs tend to be smaww animaws varying from 4 cm to 39 cm in wengf. There is no pronounced body type since dey have evowved to take over de insect-eating niche in Madagascar. However, based on de niche occupied, dey wook wike shrews, hedgehogs or otters. Their coat can vary from smoof to spiny and de coworation of de fur is generawwy dirt brown, uh-hah-hah-hah. Most species are awso nocturnaw and have poor eyesight. However, deir whiskers are rader sensitive and dey can detect very minute vibrations in de ground to wocate deir prey.